Made in Pennsylvania: K’NEX Toys

If you have children or know a child or have ever known someone who’s had a child – you probably know that K’NEX makes some of the very best toys for children of all ages.  Not only are they well built - but they are just plain extraordinary items.  Especially, for those children that are mechanically [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Channel Craft Toys

Channel Craft was started in the early 1980’s by Dean Helfer, Jr. – who used to set-up a “hand made toy” booth at folk festivals around the country.  He would sand and finish toys for his customers as they watched.  He later took his toys to arts & crafts festivals and generated enough interest that [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Holgate Toys

In the spirit of the holidays – it would be nice to point out that Bradford, Pa based Holgate Toys still makes its wooden toys in Pennsylvania.  Holgate Toys was established in 1789 in Kane, Pa and relocated to Bradford, Pa in 1929.  The company chose Bradford, Pa because of it’s proximity to vast tracks [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Crayola

Crayola – the name we all associate with Crayons – has remained in Pennsylvania for 108 years.  Formerly known as the Binney & Smith Company, Crayola is headquartered in Easton, Pa and has its main manufacturing facility down the road in Bethlehem where it produces Crayons, markers, paints, and clay among other things.  The company’s was first major [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: The Slinky

Yes – hard to believe – one of the greatest childhood toys ever made is still being produced in Holidaysburg, Pa.  The toy was dreamt up by a mechanical engineer who saw a spring fall off a table.  He put together a small amount of investment money and debuted the toy by demonstrating its “walking” capabilities in a [...]

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